The Iliad of Homer eBook

long survive;
But, even now, fate, and a violent death
Attend thee by Achilles’ hands ordain’d
To perish, by AEacides the brave.[21]
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So saying, the shades of death
him wrapp’d around.
Down into Ades from his limbs dismiss’d,
His spirit fled sorrowful, of youth’s
prime
And vigorous manhood suddenly bereft
Then, him though dead, Hector again bespake.
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Patroclus! these prophetic
strains of death
At hand, and fate, why hast thou sung
to me?
May not the son of Thetis azure-hair’d,
Achilles, perish first by spear of mine?
He said; then pressing with
his heel the trunk 1055
Supine, and backward thursting it, he
drew
His glittering weapon from the wound,
nor stay’d,
But lance in hand, the godlike charioteer
Pursued of swift AEacides, on fire
To smite Automedon; but him the steeds
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Immortal, rapid, by the Gods conferr’d
(A glorious gift) on Peleus, snatch’d
away.

THE ILIAD.

BOOK XVII.

ARGUMENT OF THE SEVENTEENTH
BOOK.

Sharp contest ensues around the body of Patroclus.
Hector puts on the armor of Achilles. Menelaus,
having dispatched Antilochus to Achilles with news
of the death of Patroclus, returns to the battle, and,
together with Meriones, bears Patroclus off the field,
while the Ajaces cover their retreat.

BOOK XVII.

Nor Menelaus, Atreus’ valiant son,
Knew not how Menoetiades had fallen
By Trojan hands in battle; forth he rush’d
All bright in burnish’d armor through
his van,
And as some heifer with maternal fears
5
Now first acquainted, compasses around
Her young one murmuring, with tender moan,
So moved the hero of the amber locks
Around Patroclus, before whom his spear
Advancing and broad shield, he death denounced
10
On all opposers; neither stood the son
Spear-famed of Panthus inattentive long
To slain Patroclus, but approach’d
the dead,
And warlike Menelaus thus bespake.
Prince! Menelaus!
Atreus’ mighty son! 15
Yield. Leave the body and these gory
spoils;
For of the Trojans or allies of Troy
None sooner made Patroclus bleed than
I.
Seek not to rob me, therefore, of my praise
Among the Trojans, lest my spear assail
20
Thee also, and thou perish premature.[1]
To whom, indignant, Atreus’
son replied.
Self-praise, the Gods do know, is little
worth.
But neither lion may in pride compare
Nor panther, nor the savage boar whose
heart’s 25
High temper flashes in his eyes, with
these
The spear accomplish’d youths of